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All statistics from KenPom.com, Hoop-Math.com and Synergy Sports Technology. KenPom stats also only include Division I competition.

3 Strengths

▪ Drawing contact: Washington does a great job of getting points at the line, ranking fifth nationally in free-throw rate. Foul trouble should be the No. 1 concern for Kansas on Wednesday.

▪ Getting back: According to Hoop-Math’s numbers, Washington is 15th-best nationally when it comes to limiting transition attempts. Opponents have scored well when they’ve gotten fast breaks, but those opportunities have been rare.

▪ Creating havoc: The Huskies rank 15th in steal percentage and 64th in defensive turnover rate — two of the only positives for the team’s underwhelming defense.

▪ Interior defense: Unlike Syracuse, Washington is not holding down opponents’ shooting percentages inside. The Huskies’ two-point defense is worse than NCAA average, as both shots at the rim and in the mid-range are going in at high rates.

▪ Three-point shooting: Washington doesn’t attempt many threes, and it’s only made 32 percent of those tries through eight games.

3 Players to Watch

6-foot-8 forward Noah Dickerson (No. 15)

Plus: Ranks third nationally in drawing fouls

Plus: Gets to line often and has made 73 percent there this season

Plus: Strong rebounder on both ends, though specialty is on offensive glass

Plus: Good shooter in mid-range

Minus: Not a three-point shooter

Minus: Can be turnover prone

6-foot-4 guard Jaylen Nowell (No. 5)

Plus: Efficient player who is team’s most frequent shooter

Plus: Thrives inside, where he’s above-average shooter at rim and in mid-range who can create shots for himself

Plus: Doesn’t turn it over often

Plus: Can get to line, where he’s 84 percent shooter

Minus: Has not been good three-point shooter in tiny sample

Minus: Synergy lists him as a “below average” overall defender

6-foot-11 forward Sam Timmins (No. 33)

Plus: Top-100 shot-blocker

Plus: Like Dickerson, he’s a good rebounder on both ends, but elite on the offensive side

Plus: Synergy’s logs rank him as “excellent” defender

Minus: Only a role player offensively who doesn’t shoot much

Minus: Foul prone

Prediction

KU has done a great job of avoiding whistles this season, but that’ll be tougher Wednesday night.

With Dickerson leading the way, Washington has coaxed many opponents into foul issues, which isn’t ideal for a Jayhawks team that remains shorthanded without Billy Preston and Sam Cunliffe.

The good news for KU: Shooters should be open. Washington’s zone defense doesn’t have the length or ability that Syracuse has, so there should be additional scoring chances on the perimeter along with lob opportunities behind the back line.

If Washington can get back in transition, though, I like its chances of keeping this closer than Vegas suggests. Creating fouls and crashing the offensive glass (another Washington strength) are both potential ways to crack this tough KU defense, and I’m not as confident that the Jayhawks will shoot it well away from their true home.

Kansas 85, Washington 68

Jesse’s pick to cover spread: Washington

Hawk to Rock

Devonté Graham had a huge game against Syracuse, and he’ll be facing a similar defensive team Wednesday. Against the 2-3 zone, Graham will be asked to make plays, throw lobs and shoot threes late in the shot clock, so a big statistical night is possible again.